" Perry Rhodan 0048 - (40) The Red Eye of Betelgeuse" - читать интересную книгу автора (Perry Rhodan)

prophets and global-minded statesmen. Border lines and customs barriers had fallen. Homer G. Adams,
the Finance Minister of Terra, had introduced a common unit of currency: the Solar. The former great
powers and the small nations had their representative seats in the Great Council of the World
Government, which met at regular intervals inTerrania , the world capital.

The danger of war was now as dead as the dinosaur. Money which had previously been squandered
insanely and incessantly on the senseless competition for national military ‘security’ now served to
construct a gigantic spacefleet for the protection of mankind as a planetary unit.



****



Located in the heart of the Gobi Desert, Terrania was the scene of great activity. As the central core of
United Earth, the city of a million inhabitants awaited the report of its first citizen, finally home from space
after an absence of half a year. No one knew what had transpired during those 6 months but everyone
suspected that only events of critical importance could have kept Perry Rhodan so long away from Earth.

Chief Engineer Kowalski and electronic technician Harper had their evening free and were seated
expectantly before the TV screen in the common living quarters which they shared with 2 other
colleagues who were on the night shift. The station identification picture showed interstellar space with the
Milky Way in the background; in the foreground, the shadow outline of a torpedo-shaped ship. Only the
single wordTerrania identified the source of transmission.

Every Earthman, Earthwoman and Earthchild was aware that an event of major importance was
impending. Virtually no one would miss this broadcast for World Government was to speak to the
population of the entire planet.

Perhaps the most important man on Earth or off it—the Administrator himself—would address the
united natives of his home world personally.

"He just got back today," said Kowalski and Harper knew who he meant. They had both seen the
mighty spherical spaceship land, such a ship as the Earth had never before beheld. The giant vessel had
an approximate diameter of one mile. The nameTitan stood out on its hull of Arkonide steel. "I’m
anxious to hear the news he’s going to give us."

He referred to Perry Rhodan, the man who had united the Earth and brought it to the status of a great
galactic power. Perhaps he was the only living human who had no enemies, at least not on the Earth or
among humankind. Beyond, in the far reaches of interstellar space, however…

"We’ll soon find out," Harper rejoined, as he lounged in his chair. "At least one thing hasn’t changed: the
delays for station identification are still a part of television!—Ah! Now it begins!"

The glittering Milky Way faded from the screen to be replaced by the face of a man who was known to
everyone. This was Col. Albrecht Klein, Rhodan’s second-in-command. During the absence of the
Administrator he acted in the interest of the New Power and conducted the affairs of the World
Government, energetically supported by Allan D. Mercant.